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Tag Archives: labour laws

Saturday 14th July saw cities across the country unite in opposition to National’s state owned asset sales which have been steam rolled through Parliament under “urgency”. Christchurch saw several hundred take to the streets to demand a halt to the National Party’s austerity measures. The government have been busy justifying cuts in public services, anti union law changes, pay freezes and beneficiary bashing under the guise of nationwide deficits and the global crises ever since it took office four years ago. The smoke and mirrors are faltering and National’s ratings are finally beginning to drop. If this weekend’s event has anything to prove it’s this: “The summer in Otautahi is going to be a hot and eventful one”.

Note worthy comments came from CAFCA – Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa. Spokesperson Muray Horton reminded us that we should be very wary of the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). The “free trade” agreement is currently under negotiation between NZ and 8 other countries, including the U.S. which is being sold as a great oportunity but in reality will be a straight jacket on domestic law. What few labour laws remain will be wiped as the TPPA partners demand markets to be prized open and legislation to be put firmly in the hands of big business interests.

Much to the disdain of attending labour party supporters Muray remarked on Roger Douglass’ influence during the past 30 years. Deregulation, public wealth given to private speculators and an errosion of our communities all seem to have been forgotten by the current generation of Labourites. Almost all Western democracies are being attacked by cuts and austerity – regardless of what colour tie or badge the politician happens to be wearing – they are all doing the same to the people they supposedely represent. The CAFCA spokesperson had momentarially broke the social amnesia that has gripped the left in this country. Labour MP Megan Woods spoke immediately after Muray which only served to highlight the blustering and chest beating of Labour who all of a sudden seem to think asset sales and the plight of the workers and unemployed as something that is bad. Fancy that!

Hats off to event organiser Sharna Butcher – Really Great Job!!!

TC3 Residents have organised and are taking their fight to the streets:
O.S.N have just received this;

BIG NEWS – Fix our Homes along with Wecan will be holding a rally “EQC/insurance – the man made disaster” on 5 August . It will be held in town (location being confirmed) accumulating in a unique petition being driven to Wellington. More details to follow. If you are serious about your involvement and are committed to this cause please commit to meeting this Saturday at 3pm to discuss the logistics (location also to be confirmed). This situation will not be rectified without people power – this is our time to say enough is enough. But we need your involvement. We cannot win this battle on our own. Details will be updated on our facebook page TC3 residents.

Our friends at recomposition have just re-publishsed a great article on the phenoena sweeping Canada and the States – The Flying Squad

Recently much interest and discussion has been generated by the emergence of union flying squads in Ontario. Flying squads — rapid response networks of workers that can be mobilized for strike support, demonstrations, direct action and working class defense of immigrants, poor people, and unemployed workers — present a potentially significant development in revitalizing organized labor activism and rank-and-file militancy.

Here are organizations with rank-and-file participation working to build solidarity across unions and locals and alongside community groups, engaging in direct action while striving to democratize their own unions. No wonder then that the re-appearance of flying squads in Ontario, in a context of halting resistance to a vicious neoliberal attack, notably among some sectors of the labor movement, has been cause for much excitement.